To celebrate the release of the brand-new 2015 Guide to Literary Agents, I am bringing back one of my most popular recurring contests: The “Worst Storyline Ever” Contest. Except this time, it’s hosted on the Writers in the Storm blog. So if you’re looking for an agent and want a big database, check out the book. And if you’ve got a horrible idea for a story, I want to hear about it. Welcome to the “Worst Storyline Ever” Contest—a competition that encourages terrible loglines.

With the summer conference season in full swing, we’ve got tons of helpful tips over at the new site. Since our subscriber list has moved, we’re posting solely over there. Are you subscribed over at our new digs? We’ve had fantastic topics this month and just want to make sure you’re getting in on the discussion!

Since our subscriber list has moved, we’re posting solely at the new site. Are you subscribed over at our new digs? We’ve had some fab posts since the move and just want to make sure you’re getting them!

For those of you who have submitted before, ever wonder how an agent can ask for the first 20 pages and still reject your book? Did you ever wonder if the agents really read these pages? How can they know our book isn’t something they want to represent with so little to go on? I mean, if they would just continue to page 103 they would see that the princess uncovers a whole underground movement of garden gnomes with inter dimensional capabilities, and they wouldn’t be able to put it down. Right?

Wrong.

I’ve edited countless manuscripts, and today I am going to let you see the first 20 pages through the eyes of an agent or editor. This is Novel Diagnostics 101.

Note:The subscriber list will be moving over any day now. If you’ve been meaning to subscribe, now is a good time to hit that button at the top of the right sidebar. You’ll only have to do it once. :-)

I don’t usually enter contests, but I decided to go all out this year.

During the past two months I’ve redefined my understanding of the experience from both the judging and entrant viewpoints. I hope this post will help you consider whether entering contests is in your best interest at this point in your career. Next month I’ll share perspectives of a judge.

Note:The subscriber list will be moving over any day now. If you’ve been meaning to subscribe, now is a good time to hit that button at the top of the right sidebar. You’ll only have to do it once. :-)